Seroprevalence of HSV-1 and 2 in HIV-infected males with and without GUD: Study from a tertiary care setting of India

BACKGROUND: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is associated with an increased risk of both human immune deficiency virus (HIV) transmission and acquisition. However, in India, literature on HSV infections in in HIV-infected males has been scarce. The present study was carried out to assess the seroprevalence of these viruses in HIV-infected males, so as to provide a baseline data from India and report on HSV associated GUD prevalence in HIV infected males. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to estimate the seroprevalence of herpes simplex type 1 and 2 viruses in HIV-infected males with and without genital ulcers disease (GUD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: It was a prospective study. We included a total of 351 male participants in this study. Among these 233 were HIV-infected and 118 HIV-uninfected males who served as controls. The seroprevalence was estimated, using HSV-1 and 2 type specific IgG and IgM antibodies by ELISA. RESULTS: HIV-infected patients had a median age of 32 ± 6.97 years (interquartile range: 28–36). Of the 351 males, 25.92% (91/351) were infected with HSV-1 and HSV-2 both. The overall seroprevalence of HSV-1 singly infected, HSV-2 singly infected, and dual infection in HIV-infected males was 39.92%, 25.58%, and 37.33% whereas in HIV-uninfected group the corresponding figures were 71.18%, 5.08%, and 3.38%, respectively. Seven of 233 (3%) HIV-infected males were having incident HSV infection. GUD was reported in both HSV-1 and HSV-2 seropositive individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections were found to be associated with GUD in HIV-infected patients. The prevalence of HIV-HSV co-infection among GUD patients is high.